Social media, the new health exchange

Health care organizations engage with patients through social media, regularly gauging their needs and driving them to appropriate products and services. Online patient communities grow exponentially and become rich databases of crowdsourced data. Advanced analytics on patient chatter in these communities gather health information and put it into context, providing a better understanding of which treatments deliver the best outcomes. Businesses and governments work with communities of patients, hospitals, payers and experts to identify best practices and cost-effective treatments. New business models emerge with this rise in cross-organizational cooperation and collaboration, driving down costs and improving care. Privacy and security of data remain key considerations.